The on-going construction of the Midfield Terminal Building (MTB) at Abu Dhabi International is in response to the anticipated growth in passenger throughput at the airport.

The new gateway is expected to accommodate 30 million passengers annually by the time it opens in 2017.

Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) has witnessed the completion of several key infrastructure projects over the last few years; an indication of the growing trend for air travel through the Emirate. “The growth in passenger traffic is testament to Abu Dhabi’s status as a hub for regional aviation and aerospace, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to deliver a world-class experience,” said Abdul Majeed Khouri, acting CEO at Abu Dhabi Airports.

Total traffic for the first six months of 2016 reached 11,848,359 passengers, representing a 6.6% increase from the 11,111,577 in the first six months of 2015.

Services to Mumbai (still referred to as Bombay by many in Abu Dhabi) have seen a significant rise in traffic, mainly due to an increase in capacity from flag-carrier Etihad. The airline added A380s to the Indian city’s service earlier in May.

“January and March have been the busiest period for Abu Dhabi International Airport in the first half of the year, with passenger traffic crossing two million in both of these months,” Khouri added.

Figures for August 2016 showed a similar growth curve, with 2.3 million passengers, marking an increase of 2.3% compared to August 2015. More info